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Check Engine Light
The check engine light came on today as I departed Hearthside in Petoskey. It flashed briefly a few times when I arrived at the campground and I didn’t think much about it. After a while, however, it persisted and I noticed that the turbo boost pressure gauge was pegged over to max. I was low on fuel so I limped about 50 miles to a truck stop. I say “limped” but actually the coach seemed to run file. I immediately suspected an instrumentation issue.
From the fuel stop I called Prevost and spoke with a tech. I gave him the codes, 102-0 and 102-3 from the Silverleaf engine monitor (highly recommended, by the way) and he told me that they both indicated a problem with the turbo boost sensor. The -3 reading meant that the voltage was high on the sensor, and the -0 reading meant that the sensor wasn’t working. Being situated in a remote part of the state, I asked the tech what the risk of driving in this condition might be and he informed me that in the event of a loss of the boot gauge there would be a reduction in power since the engine can’t determine the available boost pressure. Other than that, it wasn’t a safety or powerplant damage concern (let’s hope).
I continued to drive southward. It was Sunday and few shops, if any, are open. During the drive, the boost pressure would indicate high sometimes (pegged over), and normal sometimes, and then finally it dropped to zero. My power, just like the tech said, dropped. According to the engine monitor, was reduced to 47%, or slightly less then 250 horsepower. I can say with some authority now that at 250 horsepower, the XLII 2S is a pig and not fun to drive. I was struggling to make 60 mph on I-75. Suddenly, the boost guage went back to 100% and full power was restored. The Silverleaf showed that it was reporting 31.9 PSI of boost. This was clearly false because it was 100% all the time, throttle or no throttle, and the check engine light remained ON.
I pulled off into a rest area and had another good look at the sensor. It is too far back to reach, and its wire connection was forward such that I could not see it. Feeling helpless, I decided to press on. After the stop, the sensor worked fine and the pressures where indicating normal. Full power returned as well. This went on for about an hour and then it failed again, in the zero position. Again, I stopped at a rest area and shut down for lunch. After lunch, we took off again and everything was fine. Check Engine light OFF, and gauges normal. The engine ran well for the next 200 miles and no further irregularities were noted. Now we’re overnighing in a Walmart in Hermitage, PA and will be seeking out a WW Williams shop tomorrow morning. The nearest one is about 100 miles to our east.
One final note is that the ride south from Mackinac to Hearthside in Petoskey via US 31 sucked. The highway is total crap and it rode like a washboard for over an hour. This might have played a part in the failure.
Prevost ownership never stops being fun. Also, Hearthside Grove is a marvelous spot. I can’t believe what I’ve been missing!
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5 Replies
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Have you checked the coolant level? Should be in the middle of the sight glass. With the temperature changes over the winter its possible you’ve lost coolant. Where did you have it stored over? Indoors or outdoors? Heated or not? Concrete/hard surface under the coach? If so, any evidence of leaking coolant on under the coach?
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Hi Dick
Coach was parked outside and plugged in, I had not checked the fluid level so I will check that right away. We are expecting about 18inches of snow so it will be when I shovel to the back of the coach.
Thanks
Darrell
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Check the code for the fault so you can look for the specific problem.
1984 96" with 8V92TA
(remodeled Liberty Coach)
Greenwood, MO -
Where do you find the codes and, I have looked through my manuals and can’t find them.
Thanks
Darrell
1984 96" with 8V92TA
(remodeled Liberty Coach)
Greenwood, MO -
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